Worldwide Travel Insurance

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What is worldwide travel insurance?

How does worldwide travel insurance work?

What does worldwide travel insurance typically cover?

How much does worldwide travel insurance usually cost?

What should I think about when buying a worldwide travel insurance policy?

Frequently asked questions

Explore the world at your own speed with travel insurance

Long story short

Worldwide travel insurance can help keep your plans flexible

Instead of listing out each country in your trip plan, choosing an all-inclusive worldwide option means you don’t need a new policy every time you want to explore a new destination.

Worldwide policies work with any level of cover

Whether you’re looking at a medical-only or a comprehensive travel insurance policy, worldwide is just the coverage area, so it works with whatever level you need.

Worldwide travel cover won’t take too much out of your budget

A month long worldwide comprehensive travel insurance plan averages around $328, while annual multi trip cover sits closer to $634, with add ons bumping it higher.

What is worldwide travel insurance? 

Worldwide travel insurance is a feature of standalone products multi-trip or single-trip policies and expands your plan’s coverage from one or even a handful of country’s to almost anywhere you want to go. 

Most travel insurers will have a worldwide option when you’re picking out destination countries, acting as a little time-saving trick instead of manually picking out each country you plan on visiting. If you’re halfway through a trip to Europe and decide on an unplanned detour, worldwide cover means no frantic calls to your insurer to adjust your policy. As long as it’s included under your insurer’s definition of ‘worldwide’, you won’t have to lift a finger.

If you’ve got more than one trip planned out for the year, and are leaning towards an annual multi-trip travel insurance, worldwide should be available, too. That means fewer calls each time a new international trip pops up. But make sure each trip fits your policy limits (e.g. 30, 45 or 60 days), you can board your flight knowing you’re covered if things get messy. 

Whether you’re backpacking with a ‘we’ll see what happens’ itinerary or exploring entire regions without a structured plan, worldwide international travel insurance is a great option for travellers who want freedom without constant policy edits. It’s also a great set-and-forget option for the traveller who doesn’t want to have to think about their insurance policy until they actually need it.

How does worldwide travel insurance work?

Worldwide insurance means your policy covers you in almost any country you visit. If your insurer offers different tiers of cover, you’ll be able to pair worldwide with whatever level suits your trip. So if you’re after a low-key medical-only policy, all the bells and whistles comprehensive coverage, or have a full year of travel and need an annual multi-trip, you can have the freedom to travel wherever you want (just watch out for country exclusions). 

Depending on your level of cover, it’ll help protect you in a worst-case scenario. Whether your laptop is damaged during a flight change, your trip gets cancelled, or you end up needing medical assistance mid-trip, your worldwide travel insurance policy could help calm the chaos and get your itinerary back on track. No one buys travel insurance hoping to use it, but the government still recommends it just in case things do unravel. 

What does worldwide travel insurance typically cover?

Just remember, worldwide insurance is the destination you pick out, so your level of cover isn’t decided until you pick out your policy level. For a general idea, here’s what that could mean for a standard policy. 

How much does worldwide travel insurance usually cost?

For a single-trip worldwide policy, comparing from iSelect’s range of providers as of February 2026, a typical comprehensive plan for a month-long trip is $328 on average. If you’ve got a year packed full of international adventure and you’re looking for an easy, low-touch option, then you could look at a worldwide annual multi-trip policy. Prices for annual comprehensive policies for worldwide destinations can average at $634. Just remember the price of a worldwide travel insurance policy depends on details unique to your holiday, like how long you’ll be gone, your coverage level and any extras, so this could change. 

You’ll also need to consider any extra coverage you’ll need on top of this premium price to cover you for cruises, snow sports, rental vehicle excess, or any adrenaline-filled activities.

Helpful tip

Before clicking ‘worldwide’ on your travel insurance quote, take a minute to see what countries your insurer includes. Some countries can be excluded for Smartraveller-related safety ratings or for your insurer’s own reasons. For example, Mali or Libya might be excluded from worldwide cover options. A 30-second check of what your policy covers could save you from a nasty surprise later. 

Adrian Bennett

General Manager for General Insurance

What should I think about when buying a worldwide travel insurance policy?

Your coverage level isn’t the only thing sharpening your policy premium. There are a few things set by your travel insurer as added risk factors that can affect your insurance costs. 

Countries excluded from worldwide insurance

Not every insurer defines worldwide the same way. It’s pretty common for higher-risk destinations that Smartraveller has labelled as ‘Do not travel’ to be excluded. You could also see high-cost destinations excluded, since things like hospital expense claims are more costly in these places. If the USA is on your itinerary, you may need to add it on top of your worldwide cover.

Age

Policies usually come with upper age limits. Generally, the closer you are to the limit, the more likely your premium is to rise or plan options are to shrink. Some insurers also apply a higher insurance excess amount for older travellers, which can mean paying more than others if you need to claim.

Pre-existing conditions

Travel insurers should always know about any pre-existing medical conditions. While your insurer might cover a range of medical conditions, they don’t cover all of them. Those that are covered may also come with an added premium.

For conditions they can’t cover, you can still be offered a policy, but you won’t be able to claim anything related to your medical condition. Which means more extra costs to think about if your condition worsens on your trip. 

Frequently asked questions

Explore the world at your own speed with travel insurance

If your travel style is more ‘book now, plan it out later,’ worldwide travel insurance cover could be an ideal choice to match your relaxed plans. Comparing from a range of polices and plans can help you make the best choice for your trip, without leaving you exposed to the what ifs of travel. Compare travel insurance policies online with iSelect to find a policy that takes care of you, so all that’s left to do is see where your feet will take you.